His getaway car, at least from some of the stores, was a gold Saturn.

Investigators from Delhi Township to Florence compared notes as the dozen armed robberies continued throughout July. But they didn't have any potential names until the Williamstown, Ky., police chief happened to stop Mark Acree for speeding early last month. The chief said he found crack cocaine and two guns in the car.

The traffic stop started a trail that ended Tuesday in Hamilton County with indictments against Acree, 27, and his girlfriend, Sheri Greener, 33. He's charged with aggravated robbery at eight stores in Hamilton County, and police say he robbed another four in Northern Kentucky. Greener was indicted on six counts of aggravated robbery, accused of being the driver of the getaway Saturn.

On average, prosecutors say, Acree took less than $100.

The couple stole to feed their crack cocaine addiction, said Cincinnati Detective Brett Gleckler.

He said he first heard about Acree "through some dumb luck" from Florence police.

Florence cops had learned about the traffic stop in Williamstown.

"Sometimes you have to look beyond a traffic ticket because there might be more to it than that," said Williamstown Chief Bobby Webb.

The spree of convenience-store robberies started July 4 at the UDF on Queen City Avenue in South FairmountFive days later, the indictment alleges, Acree hit the Food Mart in Blue Ash.

A customer walked in, prompting the robber to drop the money and run.

Still, the robberies didn't stop. Ten more stores were hit over the next 22 days.

Delhi Township Detective Bob Schwable said Tuesday that detectives from the various agencies quickly determined similarities.

Then Webb stopped Acree and another man, Domenico Vilardo, 21, for speeding. Vilardo also was indicted on one charge each of aggravated robbery and robbery. He is accused of helping Acree in one of the robberies. A Grant County, Ky., grand jury indicted both men on charges of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cincinnati police arrested Greener, the girlfriend, Aug. 27and she admitted to driving the Saturn, Gleckler said. She also listed for detectives other locations the couple allegedly robbed. Investigators took that list to Acree, Gleckler said, and he confessed.

"Everyone knew it was the same guy, we just didn't know who he was," he said. "He was just on a rampage through July."

E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com and jprendergast@enquirer.com